Chengannur by-election result 2018 highlights: The result of Chengannur constituency located in Alappuzha district of Kerala is out. CPI(M) candidate Saji Cherian has won this key constituency against Congress and BJP. The elections were held in the constituency on May 28. A total of around 73 per cent people voted in the bypolls. Chengannur went to polls due to the death of CPM legislator KK Ramachandra Nair in January. The Candidates fighting in the bypolls include CPM’s Saji Cheriyan, D Vijaykumar from Congress and PS Sreedharan Pillai from BJP. The candidates from Rashtriya Lok Dal, Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), Aam Aadmi Party, Ambedkarite Party of India and 10 independent candidates.
Chengannur by-election result 2018 highlights: CPI(M) candidate Saji Cherian wins; Congress attacks Kerala CM
Chengannur by-election result 2018: The result of Chengannur constituency located in Alappuzha district of Kerala is out. CPI(M) candidate Saji Cherian has won this key constituency against Congress and BJP.
New Delhi
Updated: 
This article was first uploaded on May thirty, twenty eighteen, at twenty-nine minutes past ten in the night.
CPI(M) candidate Saji Cherian has won by 20, 956 votes after defeating nearest rival Congress nominee D Vijayakumar. Total votes polled for Cherian is 67, 303
"Some 'coat and suit' media persons in TV newsrooms passed their verdicts on LDF but it is the people who have the final say, their verdict is clear," said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
"This is people's verdict, their absolute confidence in LDF government and their faith in our initiatives and I humbly thank all voters for voting beyond religion, caste factors. We see this verdict as people's 'green signal' for LDF's development agenda; this verdict is a big setback for BJP's fascist ideology," says CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Chengannur results
Former Union Minister AK Antony and senior Congress leader said, "Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan led the CPM to play the communal card in Chengannur in the same way Modi has done at the Centre. LDF has played the caste and religion car; we will analyse booth-by-booth, examine seat-wise setback."
As per the latest report, CPIM candidate is leading with 20956 votes from Chengannur assembly seat in Kerala.
Saji Cherian is a well-known leader in Kerala political circle. Earlier in January, he was elected as district secretary of CPI(M) in Alappuzha district. Saji had also fought from Chengannur in 2006.
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Kerala CPM chief Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has lashed out at Congress after his party candidate was seemed to be winning in Chengannur assembly seat. "
Congress must learn a lesson from the setback," he said.
"We respect the people's mandate but LDF had played the communal card here, we will examine all factors and take measures," KPCC President MM Hassan told media.
CPIM candidate Saji Cherian is now leaing by 16,282 votes from Chengannur assembly seat in Kerala
"Custodial deaths, murder of Dalit youth, increase in the atrocities against women, let's not ignore ground reality," Congress leader Shanimol Usman was quoted as saying by local TV news
UDF and Congress will rise again, the party has come to power many times in the state but have you ever seen CM Oommen Chandy speak arrogantly to anyone? LDF's arrogance is shocking: Shanimol Usman, Congress to local TV news channels
CPI(M) candidate Saji Cherian has taken lead of over 13, 659 votes.
Leader of Opposition, Kerala Legislative Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said that leadership "Will analyse party performance and take adequate measures thereafter."
Left candidate Saji Cherian has extended lead to 10028 votes
Congress leadership should consider what went wrong at the grass-root level in Chengannur, said UDF candidate Vijayakumar
CPIM leader is leading over 7028 Votes, acoridng to the latest trends. CPI(M)'s Saji Cherian said that "We were able to make gains in UDF strongholds."
As Saji Cherian extended his lead by 4307 votes, BJP candidate P Sreedharan Pillai claimed that "Both Congress and CPM are together now, this is known to everyone here and of course, it has political impact."
"This is not my win, it is a message for Chengannur's development and people have voted for LDF's development agenda, this shows people's confidence in CM Pinarayi Vijayan and LDF," says Saji Cherian to Asianet TV News channel
CPM candidate Saji Cherian has extended his lead and is ahead by 3545 Votes. Meanwhile, BJP nominee P S Sreedharan Pillai is trailing after getting 5526 votes
CPI(M) candidate Saji Cherian has taken a solid lead over his nearest rivals. As per latest reports, Cherian has taken a lead of 3106 votes.
The bypoll in Chengannur constituency of central Kerala was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA K K Ramachandran Nair (CPIM) in January, 2018 due to illness, according to reports.
Early trends show that CPI-M candidate is leading from Chengannur Assembly seat in Kerala
During the campaign, Congress had devised an interesting strategy. Besides raking up the “anti-people” policies of both the Centre and the state governments, the Congress is also campaigning against the political violence allegedly unleashed by the ruling CPI(M) in the state.
The BJP-led NDA has left no stone unturned for a victory as the saffron front had garnered 16 per cent of the total votes polled in the constituency last time and came third securing around 42,000 votes. During the campaign, BJP is banking on the achievements of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
With Congress leading in Chengannur assembly seat in Kerala, let's take a look at what is at stake. Congress badly wants to win the seat as it would provide a perfect opportunity for the Opposition party in the state to wrest its traditional constituency back from arch rival CPI(M) and to boost the confidence among partymen who are gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Early trends show that Congress is leading in this crucial seat in Kerala. Congress, CPI(M) and BJP have fielded candidates.
Kerala is among the very few states which have managed to keep BJP at bay. Chengannur by-election result 2018 is being seen as a referendum of the performance of the Pinarayi Vijayan led ruling Left dispensation in the state and Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre. The nearly two month-long electioneering witnessed an unparalleled fierce campaign by the fronts, who used all means to launch attacks against each other.
Polling in Chengannur assembly took place amidst heavy rains. However, people braved inclement weather and came out in numbers to exercise their franchise. The constituency witnessed a massive 74.5 per cent polling, according to Election Commission